In a thrilling display of power hitting, Afghanistan international Najibullah Zadran stole the spotlight during the Zim Afro T10 fixture against the Durban Wolves at Harare Sports Club on Tuesday. Zadran’s explosive batting performance, which included a remarkable 33 runs off a single over bowled by Donald Tiripano, was pivotal in leading his team, NYS Lagos, to a narrow victory.
A Brutal Assault on Tiripano
The fireworks began in the 6th over of the Nys Lagos innings when Zadran faced the Durban Wolves pacer, Donald Tiripano. Unleashing his aggressive batting style, Zadran launched a brutal assault, smashing three consecutive sixes off the very first balls of the over. He followed it up with a powerful two before launching another monstrous six over deep square leg.
Even three consecutive wides from a rattled Tiripano couldn’t stop Zadran’s onslaught. He finished the over with a flourish, driving the last ball to the boundary for four runs. A staggering 33 runs came off Tiripano’s over, propelling Nys Lagos to a strong position.
Watch the Onslaught Here:
Zadran’s Strategy and Post-Match Reflections
Speaking after his match-winning knock, Zadran revealed his strategy. “I wasn’t scoring freely before that over,” he admitted. “So, I decided to take an aggressive approach and put the pressure on Tiripano. I’ve faced him before and knew his variations, so I just focused on watching the ball and swinging freely.”
Despite his dismissal shortly after his explosive over, Zadran remained upbeat. “Unfortunately, I couldn’t stay at the crease longer,” he said. “But I’m happy that we won the match in the end.”
Match Overview: NYS Lagos vs. Durban Wolves
The match was a high-scoring affair, with NYS Lagos setting a challenging target of 134 runs for the Durban Wolves. Avishka Fernando contributed significantly with a brisk 36 runs off 16 balls, while Ryan Burl added a quickfire 22 off just 11 deliveries. Joshua Bishop also made a notable contribution with 18 runs from 8 balls. In response, the Durban Wolves struggled early but found some momentum thanks to Sharjeel Khan’s innings of 59 runs off 30 balls.
Despite Sharjeel’s efforts and a late cameo from wicketkeeper Regis Chakabva, who scored an unbeaten 27 off 11 balls, the Wolves fell short of their target, finishing at 124 runs for the loss of five wickets. Thisara Perera was effective with the ball for NYS Lagos, taking two wickets for just 17 runs in two overs.
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